Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sooooooo, today I am going to be participating in a mock trial at the courthouse as the ATTORNEY! Blahajefjewviohwroighdsheroighdkfhgsekjbvkjberskjhertldgshfgsjhdfgjbh! Soooo much work, SO MUCH WORK has been done in the last month for this thing!!! Murder case, and I don't feel ready at all! But whatever I am just going to be sooooo happy when it's over and when break comes! So anyway this blog post isn't really about black and white because I don't have any time for anything right now, but I guess it could be that there's no black and white in the court house, it's all grey areas!!

Photograph

Not much time to blog tonight, so this post will be quick and simple! Here's a photograph I took a couple weeks ago in English class of some jars of tea........ those happy days when I had leisure time to sit and take pictures........ ahhhhhhhh winter break is coming soon which means Christmas, my favorite holidayyyy!!

Dalmatians!

Why are Dalmatians the continues "fire-fighter" dog?  Well, there are several reasons:

Dalmatians are exactly the right build for the job; they area very physical and muscular, they are long, lean, and able to run great distances without tiring, and they are easily able to be spotted (no pun intended) in a smoky area.

 Dalmatians are a breed that has long been a friend to horses, which firefighters used to use to pull their steam-powered apparatuses.  For some reason they have a strong calming affect on horses; Dalmatians and horses form a deep brotherly bond.  Dalmatians used to be used to calm horses in stagecoaches; they would run along side the stagecoach, just like they began to be used for horse drawn fire fighting apparatuses. Also, the Dalmatians guard the horses, sleeping with them and hanging around them all day.

 Dalmatians are just a really loyal breed of dog in general.  Through tradition and experience, they have become a firefighters companion and a symbol of fire service.

Also, a small reason I did not see mentioned anywhere but that came to my mind was that they have relatively short hair that does not shed, which would make them easier to handle at the fire house and at the fire.

Christmas?!

Hey so I know it's not even December yet, but it almost is! And also I am just sooo excited for Christmas because it is my favorite holiday!! So I will probably do another post on Christmas closer to actual Christmas, but I just couldn't stop myself from letting everyone know HOW EXCITED I AM!!!!!  Christmas for me means BREAK.  It means seeing my grandparents.  It means setting up the tree, ornaments, and nativity set.  It means snow!! (maybe).  It means cuddling up on the couch with tea and a blanket.  It means presents and sweets!!

 Here's my Christmas list:
-a bed (and other bed assortments)
-warm leggings
-a job (please Santa! except I know I have to do that myself...)
-an iPod maybe pretty please?!
-money :)

Black Holes!!

I can't believe I haven't done a post on black holes before, because they are SOO INTERESTING!!  That kind of stuff, the mysterious, sometimes supernatural, mythical, things of the universe are just so interesting to me! Like pyramids, the Bermuda Triangle, Stonehenge, etc.

Anyways I was researching black holes and I found this super-mega-awesome site that has experiments and videos and all this stuff about black holes, so I will give you the link and I will also tell you a little bit of what I learned from it!

http://hubblesite.org/explore_astronomy/black_holes/home.html

There you go!


Now what I learned:

There are two main types of black holes: supermassive and stellar.  The supermassive black holes (no, not the Muse song) are larger than the stellar black holes, but in a sense, they are less powerful-ish.  Let me try to explain:
Okay, so you're going to be sucked into a black hole.  Sorry, but you're gonna die:(  There are two situations: you could be sucked into a stellar black hole or a supermassive black hole.  At first thought, you would think that supermassive would be far more dangerous and would kill you quicker, but that is not the case.  Since black holes have a central single point of infinite density, they also have a very large gravitational pull.  And the smaller the black hole, the smaller the point, the larger the pull.

 So it would be like condensing the earth into a ball the size of a marble; it would be soo much smaller, but it would have the exact same density, so it would have a much greater gravitational pull.  That is how the central point of a black hole works.

So anyways, lets say you are being sucked into a stellar black hole (smaller). You go feet first, and since the gravitational pull on your feet is so strong, it begins to stretch out your body.  Before you are able to reach the central "infinite density" point of the black hole, your body is ripped into pieces by the pull.  Nice, huh?

However, if you were sucked feet first into a supermassive black hole, your body would be stretched by the pull, but since they are bigger, the pull is less, so you would survive that part and you would be able to enter into the infinite density and become apart of the black hole.  I think you would die, but who knows?  Time travel?!  Worm holes?!  Links to other universes?!  Want to try it?:D

hmmmmmm................

Yin-Yang

     The Yin-Yang symbol that I'm sure you are familiar with, is a Chinese symbol representing an ancient understanding of the way things work in life and the world.  The Both the Yin (black) and the Yang (white) are encompassed by a outer surrounding circle which represents "everything".  The black and white tear drop-ish shapes represent the interaction between two forces of energy, call "yin" and "yang".  The Yin is the darker, passive, weak, cold energy, while the Yang is the bright, expanding, strong, and hot energy.  They both have a dot of the opposite color inside of them, which symbolizes that everything is not simply black and white, that they need each other to exist, and they are as much a part of each other as they are a part of "everything".  They curve into each other and form in a way that suggest they are never ending, always moving and shifting and growing.

Hmmmmm.....

So, I was shown this cartoon a couple days ago and thought it was very interesting and true....

 So, look at this picture.  Think of all the times when you have heard about this happening, read an article in the newspaper, or seen it yourself!  Why is it that the Government spends so much time dealing with and making a big hype-y deal about the smallest things that aren't nearly as important as so many other problems going on?!  We are sending our money to an unjust cause.......

But hey, yay for Colorado!!:)

OBAMAAA!

Election Day!

WHO ARE YOU VOTING FOR??!!!

Calvin and Hobbes!

Hey, does anyone remember Calvin and Hobbes?!  Because its my favorite comic!  Brings back so many childhood memories!  Also there's some good messages in them too.. check this one out:

:):):)

Boats! Again..

I have no idea why, but for some reason I seem to really enjoy pictures of boats... So, here is another one for you to possibly enjoy as well!:)

Quote!

Ok, so since politics are a big topic on everyone's mind at the moment, here is an interesting quote on politics and black-and-white-ness:

"The choice in politics isn't usually between black and white.  It's between two horrible shades of gray."

(I wasn't sure about the author of this quote.)

Dirk Dzimirsky

This guy is incredible!  Just had to start with that because I am truly, incredibly impressed!  His name is Dirk Dzimirsky and you may have heard of him because he is pretty famous in the art world and his artwork is amazing!  Here are some of his drawings, and yes, they are DRAWINGS.  He drew them so meticulously and carefully and expertly that they look like photographs and it is almost impossible to believe that they are, in fact, the work of a human with some fancy pencils.

Boats

Ok quick post today I got too much to do! But this is one cool picture, it reminds me of Dance at CSSSA where we did a modern dance that incorporated paper boats...

:)

Weird Pictures

Second blog post of the day, and while searching the internet today, I found some very peculiar pictures and later a site which displayed these pictures and more!  The article is called 50 Unexplainable Black and White Photos if that gives your imagination any food.  Some of them are just odd, but many of them are a little alarming or weirdly sexual..  Here are some of my favorites and a link to the rest of them:

Link: http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/50-unexplainable-black-white-photos

Candy Anyone?

Hey there, sorry I haven't posted all week, but I was at this SUPERMEGA-AWESOME camp where I was  counselor for six kids for a week and it was amazing!  So anyway I will be doing two blog posts today, and this one is about candy!  What is your favorite kind of candy?  As for me....  I love candy, sugar, sweets, anything like that, so it is hard to decide what my favorite candy is, but after thinking about it, I realized that some of my most favorite candies are all BLACK AND WHITE!

One of the candies I absolutely LOVE is black licorice!  Which is good for me because not too many people like black licorice!  I love the black licorice wheels pictured here, but also Panda Bear black licorice, or any other natural yummy kinds.  And the black licorice pastels things, those too!

 Alright so I also LOVE chocolate, especially dark chocolate, and yes, I know, it's not exactly black, but its dark and its extremely tasty and its at the top of my top favorite candy list so there you go!






I also am a mint lover, and my favorite kinds of mint are pillow-mints, or dinner-mints, or whatever you call them, just those delicious things to the left of this paragraph!  The melty buttery smooth-ness and the combined butter-cream mint taste....  I know I sound like a commercial but that is just how it is.  Yum!

Since I love chocolate and I also love mint, its a given that I love mint patties! The York ones are pretty good but its even better if you make them yourself! (I also like making candies experimentally, and I must admit, I've made some pretty great chocolates).

Another thing I love are meringue puffs (I think that's what they're called?) the things to the left anyway... They are simply delicious!  I guess now that I realize it, I seem to like a lot of melty creamy things.  :)

Pictures Pictures Pictures

Ok so today I'm just going to post a couple pictures that I really enjoy A LOT! And I will also post the link to the website that has these pictures and similar other black and white ones! :)

*I LOVE ELEPHANTS!!!*

More photos? :)

http://www.thephotoargus.com/inspiration/60-inspiring-examples-of-black-and-white-photography/

The Sailor's Kiss

Special blog post today! So, I'm assuming most people know at least a little bit about the picture below, but I can tell you the whole background story! Ready? :)

So...
     This picture was taken by the LIFE photographer, Alfred Eisenstaedt in 1945 just after World War II.  The photo depicts an elated sailor planting a spontaneous kiss on an unaware nurse.  Many people wondered if the kiss was staged and who the kissers were, but it is revealed after decades of debate that the kiss was not staged and that the kissers are 89-year-olds George Mendonsa and Greta Zimmer Friedman.
     These world famous smoochers have reunited in New York City's Times Square to talk about the photograph that, for so many people, has come to symbolize the end of the war.
Mendonsa actual admits that on that day he had been on a date with another woman, Rita Petry, who in fact turned out to be his future wife, and can be seen peeking out and grinning in the background (over Mendonsa's shoulder).  When they heard news of the Japanese surrender, they had gone to a bar for a "few" drinks, and on their way home, he had seen a nurse in the street and passionately kissed her his thanks (he was very grateful to nurses as he had watched so many save wounded sailors in the war).  Friedman says that she did not see him coming and was very surprised of his vice grip and kiss.  She also says that she recognized herself in the picture when it was first published, but Mendonsa wasn't so sure.  What convinced him was the image of his future wife in the background.  Rita Petry says she was not at all bothered that her date was kissing another woman on that day, there was just too much excitement and joy.  There is, in fact, two copies of the photograph hanging in the Mendonsa home; the picture is symbolic to them of the day that war ended, and the day of their first date.  The famous smoochers have met again several times, but have never reenacted the Sailor's Kiss.

:)

My Picture

So today I'm a little behind on everything and so I am just going to post a simple picture I took a while ago for you to think about, but next week I have a special entry planned! :)

What does this picture call to mind? What is the story behind it?

Who is the person in the boat?


Of course, I know the answers to all of these questions, but presumably you do not, so create a story, write it down maybe, or just look and think...




:)

Zebras Yay!!:)

Zebras! OK so everyone knows Zebras are black and white, but what else do you know about Zebras?  Here's some interesting facts about Zebras for you to enjoy!

 

There are three different species of Zebras: Mountain, Plains, and Grevy Zebras.

Zebras each have a different set of stripes, like DNA or human fingerprints.

Zebra's stripes are thought to be white on black (black with white stripes) because their skin color is actually black, but no one knows for sure.

Zebras have pretty long tails made of mostly flesh and bones.

Zebras stay with their families (a stallion,  few mares, and offspring) even when traveling with herds.


Zebras cannot be fully domesticated like horses (there have been many failed attempts)–they're just too wild!




Zebras have excellent hearing and sight due to their large ears and eyes.

Although Zebras can only run an average of 35 mph, they make up for it by using a special tactic to evade predators: they zigzag from left to right while running to make them 

Black and White Optical Illusions

Today I will be posting some black and white optical illusions!  (Yes, I know that really doesn't have to do with black and white at all.... but the pictures are in black and white!).  Also i wont be posting next Tuesday or Thursday because my school is AWESOME and we have Wilderness Week (where we all go on different awesome trips into the wilderness to bond with each other).  Have fun with these illusions though!(:

 This is the Chubb Illusion.  The two smaller circles are in fact the exact same image, though they seem to have different contrasts.  This shows the difference images seem to have in different contrast backgrounds.  The left circle image seems to have a higher contrast, while the right one seems to have a lower contrast (more blurry).

This is the Blivet Illusion.  It is an impossible shape; see how the left side of the shape seems to have three cylindrical prongs coming out, while the right side ends in two rectangular prongs.  This kind of impossible shape is also know as a poiuyt, which relatively means an undecipherable figure.

This is called the Cafe Wall Illustration.  Although the parallel straight horizontal lines (between the black and whit checker lines) appear to be bent, they are in fact all straight and parallel.  It is the skewed placement of the black and white squares that creates this illusion.  To check the straightness and parallel-ness of the lines, simply put our fingers or a piece of paper to to cover all but one of the checkered rows.  You will see that the greyish lines on either side are parallel and straight.

Last but certainly not least, here is the Fraser Spiral Illusion!  This is my favorite because it really stumped me.  See all those big windy spirals?  Well they're actually not spirals, they're circles!  The black and white twisted looking ropes paired with the background design creates the illusion of many spirals, where there are only concentrated circles.  To test this (because I know you don't believe it either) you can simply trace one of the "spirals" with your finger (or a pencil or other object) and see that it just meets itself and keeps going around in a circle. !!!

Have an awesome rest of the week (I will be enjoying myself floating down the Rogue River)!!(:

Do Blind People Dream in Black and White?

Do blind people dream in black and white??
The answer is no.  If a person is born blind, then they have no stored visual images, which does not enable them to dream in pictures at all, let alone black and white.  They simply dream in what they already know of the world: touch, taste, smell, and noise.
However, if a person goes blind after birth and is old enough to have some stored visual images, then yes, they do dream in black and white and color, just like anyone else.  They may not have a factual representation of what they are dreaming, but that does not stop them from dreaming it...

Happy Thursday!

Photograph by Shane Peterson

Look at the lines and sharpness of his glasses.  Look at the soft weathered leather-like folds of his skin.  His tufty eyebrows and hair.  His fingernails.  His eyes.  His mouth.  Especially his mouth.  Even though you can only see a tiny bit of it, his mouth still says so much about the whole picture.  What is the story behind this picture?  We can only ever guess...

Open to interpretation, imagination, and illumination.(:

Have a great weekend!

Hello All!

This is my first blog post EVER, so I guess I'll start with telling you what my blog is about: ANYTHING relating to black and white.  It could be a cool picture I found on the internet or took myself, an old newspaper article on black and white television, an entry on yin and yang... you get the point.  I will be posting every Tuesday and Thursday and I'm not expecting much, just doing this for fun!  Hopefully you enjoy my blog!

I was going to post a picture, but unfortunately "an error occurred while trying to save of publish you blog post" so there goes that..:)